Did you know Morro do Jordão means Jordan Hill? It is a mountain in Brazil. We are standing at the base of Morro do Jordão.
Our story begins with the Amigos dos Amigos cartel. The ADA as it was known once attacked Morro do Jordão. This event happened in early October. The goal was to take the territory. The attack failed. The cartel managed to scare local residents though. It proved the ADA was reorganizing. It was coming from its last stronghold.
To understand this event we need some context. Rio de Janeiro is divided into zones. There is Centro the commercial center. It becomes a ghost town at night. The Zona Sul is where the famous beaches are. Copacabana and Ipanema are here. Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer too. Favelas are important for drug trafficking in this zone. They sell to those with money. The Zona Norte grew along the railroad lines. It became the first suburb. Workers could not afford Centro or the South Zone. The Zona Oeste is the fastest growing region. It covers almost three quarters of Rio. Barra da Tijuca has gated communities for the rich. Other neighborhoods are far from Centro and the South Zone.
In 2017 every favela was divided between factions. These factions were Comando Vermelho Terceiro Comando Puro and Amigos dos Amigos. Paramilitary militias also existed. They would take over areas. Some of these areas were large and important. If drug trafficking were legal these factions would be like Brazil’s top companies. The ADA made over 26 million dollars per year in the Rocinha favela alone. The trafficker Nem controlled this area of 100000 people. Most of the money went to corrupt police. They kept the faction informed and helped maintain peace.
The ADA controlled 17 favelas in Rio. It was second to Comando Vermelho. The Comando Vermelho dominated Centro the North and South Zones. It started in 1979 during the dictatorship. Political prisoners and criminals formed the Falange Vermelha in Cândido Mendes prison. The Terceiro Comando appeared in the 1990s. It became the Terceiro Comando Puro. In 2017 they were strong in the West Zone. They were also in favelas near the lowlands in the North Zone. Militias controlled seven favelas. They were made up of firefighters police officers and military. They got rid of drug traffickers. They made profits as monopoly providers of security. They also controlled electricity water gas and internet. Nowadays militias also sell drugs.
Amigos dos Amigos rivaled the TCP. They emerged after Uê was expelled from the Comando Vermelho. He plotted to kill Orlando Jogador. In 1996 Uê founded the ADA with Linho and Celsinho. Linho had connections to suppliers in Paraguay and Bolivia. Celsinho served as a negotiator.
Uê was burned alive in 2002. Linho disappeared in the mid-2000s. Celsinho da Vila Vintém was spared by Fernandinho Beira-Mar. The reason remains a mystery.
In 2017 the ADA continued to grow. It had branches in the South and West Zones. It was also in Niterói Macaé and other cities. Drug sales had dropped off. The economy was in recession. But business boomed during the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics. A sort of peace held in the city. Traffickers paid bribes and were left alone. Shootouts became rarer. Nem made a deal with the Terceiro Comando Puro. He formed the Terceiro Comando dos Amigos. He sought an alliance with the PCC in São Paulo. The new cartel did not last long. Arafat changed sides. He ordered his soldiers to join the Terceiro Comando Puro.
The ADA lost control of a favela without a shot being fired. Militiamen evicted drug traffickers from the Saçu favela. In September they took over the Nogueira favela.
Rogério 157 announced a break with Nem. The Rocinha favela was divided. The lower regions supported Nem. Those higher up supported Rogério. The ADA lost Rocinha to the Comando Vermelho. The army and police occupied Rocinha. Rogério 157 fled. Nem jumped ship to the Terceiro Comando Puro.
The Comando Vermelho took over the Morro do Juramento favela. It was a bloodbath. Juramento endured 50 days of street battles. The Comando Vermelho kicked out the ADA for good.
The ADA was picking up the pieces. The Comando Vermelho took over the Morro do Juramento favela. Other leaders defected. The ADA’s grip had shrunk from 19 favelas to five. What remained for the ADA was a handful of minor territories. Celsinho had been in prison for two decades.
In June the Terceiro Comando Puro invaded the Morro da Coroa. They invaded Batan. The local bosses of Morro do Urubu had to give up the ADA. Only Vila Vintém and Morro do Dezoito held out. Celsinho will decide the future of the ADA.
The ADA has been working to rebuild itself. In October ADA traffickers took over the Nova Grécia favela. In early October they attacked the militia in Morro do Jordão. They failed to take the territory. This attack is part of their reorganisation.